Letter to the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, and the Hon. Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader - Roe Leads Bipartisan Push to Include Veterans Employment Proposal in Upcoming COVID-19 Relief Package Ahead of July Unemployment Numbers Release

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Leader McCarthy:

We write to you today to respectfully request that the text of our bill, H.R. 7111, as amended, the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ″Bill″ Mulder (Ret.) Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020, be included in the COVID-19 relief package that you are currently negotiating.

We know you agree that taking care of the brave men and women who have served in uniform during this national emergency and ensuring they are able to regain their footing in the postCOVID-19 economy is one of Congress' priorities. H.R. 7111, as amended, is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would assist the estimated 760,000 veterans who are currently unemployed as a result of COVID-19 get back to work. The centerpiece of the bill is a rapid retraining program that would give unemployed veterans access to training for in-demand occupations. This program would help qualified veterans who have already exhausted the education benefits they earned from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by providing them with up to one year of benefits similar to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The legislation also includes provisions that would support servicemembers transitioning to civilian life and veterans seeking meaningful employment in the technology sector.

This legislation is supported by 17 veteran and military service organizations as well as by Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs who have introduced companion legislation. It was reported out of Committee last week by voice vote and incorporates technical assistance from VA.

The bill is named for Chief Petty Officer William "Bill" Mulder, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who died by suicide following his service. We ask that, as you continue to consider ways to assist Americans during this crisis, you honor Chief Petty Officer Mulder's memory by including this bill to aid unemployed veterans in the next COVID-19 relief package. Veterans represent the best of our country and we should do what we can to set them up for long term success.